Well thought out plans have input and are not decided in backroom deals
To the Expositor:
I’m not sure what town council has in mind when they have disbanded the Old School repurposing committee in favour of their preconceived plans to destroy the architectural and social history of Mindemoya by demolishing the Old School in favour of a new build for recreational purposes.
It seems this council’s decisions have been a forgone conclusion from the start of this process without intending to look at repurposing these fine buildings for the future.
Under the law they must and have an obligation to protect and preserve significant architecture and socially significant structures for the history and fabric of the community.
The planners who have been engineering drawings and specs outside of the repurposing committee’s input have no business doing so while the committee holds public meetings and planned repurposing with public consultation.
The MPP of Algoma-Manitoulin has not weighed in on this matter, nor the MP.
The Old School is structurally sound and can continue to have centuries of life ahead of it, for the communities, if council so chooses.
Whoever put the peaked roof on the school needs to have their head examined. It’s a flat roof built to withstand heavy snow and is far easier to maintain than a shingled peak. Remove it and repair the roof.
A sports complex and activity centre will cost the community more than it will generate. Combined with the new arena and tuck shops you might have a chance to break even.
The council says both the Old School and the Community Hall are underutilized yet they want to build bigger more expensive buildings with mortgages to be underutilized; this makes no sense.
Mindemoya needs a new arena, I get that. Repurpose the arena grounds for parking. Refurbish and renovate the school building to accommodate two floors of ice and fitness needs along with meeting rooms, library, youth centre and daycare space. Office retail could be added for a fitness centre rental.
I shake my head in dismay, thinking of the amount of money that council is considering burdening the township with and the taxpayers for mortgages and upkeep. Well thought out plans have input and are not decided in backroom deals to get something for nothing.
The community members are not fools. Figure it out.
Reuben Pyette DSW
Huntsville
